De-cluttering, the never-ending process

It's what happens, annodomini. If you (like me) were brought up to hang onto things rather than 'waste' them, it can be difficult to let go of them, and nowadays there is added guilt for having acquired 'stuff' that will ultimately go into landfill, and people get at you when you start getting rid of things. I feel guilt from both ends - part of me hears my mother's voice saying that I shouldn't throw away anything I might buy again later, and another part is berating myself for having so much that I need to get rid of it. What I am trying to do now is get to a place where I can operate a 'one in, one out' system, and not have crammed cupboards and drawers as I do now.

The next generation often doesn't want 'stuff', so it's not a case of simply passing on unwanted items to them, as previous generations did with us.

I like this thread, as on the whole it is a non-judgemental space where those of us still in that no-man's land are encouraged in our endeavours.

Interestingly, because of the algorithms driving the Internet I saw a reel about decluttering yesterday saying that if you throw away three items a day starting now, you will have over 200 fewer 'things' in your house to start 2024. That's an encouraging thought, particularly if you can exceed that number, or choose larger items that take up more space.

The people at recycling said that almost everyone who has `downsized` comes in with more stuff after moving, hardly anyone removes enough before the move

I do like the concept of 3 things a day, that is perfectly do-able for me. 200 items gone by 2024 would be good. I shall find 3 things today and start now. I can carry on with small chunks of de-cluttering, rather than giving up if I cannot find big amounts

I shall do the rounds of cupboards and drawers first, one by one

Because of rising energy cost I haven’t had the heating on in some rooms. I also spend 50% of the time at my partners, thus not using much energy at all. The result is that I’ve looked in the old pine dresser in my living room that had a mould problem years ago and it’s full of white mould. It’s where I keep all of the things that I’ve collected over the years that I love but have nowhere to display them. They’re too precious to me to charity shop. I did have a small shelf put up in the living room that I could display things on with the intention of changing the display every so often. I always wanted to live in an old cottage and I’ve collecting things over the years to put in it but that isn’t likely to happen now. When I’ve cleaned everything I think I have a few decisions to make. I think I could open an antique/bric a brac shop. I collect old books, too, especially children’s books…

karmalady

The people at recycling said that almost everyone who has `downsized` comes in with more stuff after moving, hardly anyone removes enough before the move

I do like the concept of 3 things a day, that is perfectly do-able for me. 200 items gone by 2024 would be good. I shall find 3 things today and start now. I can carry on with small chunks of de-cluttering, rather than giving up if I cannot find big amounts

I shall do the rounds of cupboards and drawers first, one by one

I threw out more magazines, brochures, catalogues etc, they went this morning with the recycling

Then just went to order something online and could have got a discount code from the back of one of the catalogues!

And more clutter went out today !
I'm working my way through a lifetime of things .
The only person , who can sort it out is me .

I have been sorting through 35 years worth of things.
Well, I have had some declutters through the years, but not a complete one.
Prior to 35 years ago, I didnt have that much stuff at all.

We're doing well. Keep it up, clutter chums!

that's annoying about the discount code, Cal - I once got rid of a lot of dinner plates and literally the next day my daughter asked for them as her partner had dropped a pile of hers and broken them.

I have a pile of books to be collected by the Anglo people, and am going to clear out another wardrobe tomorrow. It houses a lot of jumpers and cardis that no longer fit. Some are cashmere, which I hate to get rid of, but bought ones can't be unravelled because of the overlocked seams. Hand knitted ones can be, but I have so much yarn already waiting to be knitted up that I may as well let them go to someone who can use them.

After the wardrobe is cleared the next step is under the spare bed, and then I can start on the yarn. This evening I plan to finish off my son's old room. That is basically sorted, but there are still some 'homeless' items lying about. They should probably go out, as if they don't have a home they can't be essential, really.

Doodledog there are companies who recycle cashmere and you get a pair of cashmere gloves in return. I can't remember the name however I'm sure Mr Google will know

Maybee, I love the sound of your collections! How about starting a new thread where you post photos of your favourite things for us all to enjoy? 🙂

I used to collect children’s books too but I’m gradually taking them to charity bookshops as I know none of the family will want them - I will keep my most loved ones until the end!

Maria59

Doodledog there are companies who recycle cashmere and you get a pair of cashmere gloves in return. I can't remember the name however I'm sure Mr Google will know

Turtle Doves?

I know they make wristbands and things from old jumpers, but I didn't know they bought them - it makes sense that they will, really. Thanks for the tip

A successful decluttering day for me today and looking forward to doing some more at the weekend.

I've just checked the Turtle Doves website, and yes, they take old cashmere garments in exchange for fingerless gloves - thanks again, Maria69. I will send some off and get some Christmas presents in return . I'm sure I have three that don't fit, which is their max per customer, so that's a pair for me and one each for my daughter and DIL's stockings.

Doodledog

I've just checked the Turtle Doves website, and yes, they take old cashmere garments in exchange for fingerless gloves - thanks again, Maria69. I will send some off and get some Christmas presents in return . I'm sure I have three that don't fit, which is their max per customer, so that's a pair for me and one each for my daughter and DIL's stockings.

I bought the gloves as gifts a couple of Christmases ago and was so impressed I bought myself a pair. I'm toying with the idea of sending a cashmere jumper that is a little small and getting another pair. It's cream with a navy 'dotted' horizontal stripe, I think a pair from it would look lovely, but on the other hand I'm still fantasising that I can lose half a stone and get back into it

*the fantasy being that half a stone would be enough!

I know the feeling. . .

I’m continuing to declutter, but slowly. Just one drawer or a cupboard at a time. I’m getting there, and finding it very therapeutic. Still much to do, but as the Winter months approach 😞 there will be more time, as less gardening to do.

karmalady

The people at recycling said that almost everyone who has `downsized` comes in with more stuff after moving, hardly anyone removes enough before the move

I do like the concept of 3 things a day, that is perfectly do-able for me. 200 items gone by 2024 would be good. I shall find 3 things today and start now. I can carry on with small chunks of de-cluttering, rather than giving up if I cannot find big amounts

I shall do the rounds of cupboards and drawers first, one by one

We have recently moved house. I have taken semi-retirement and was working until just before we moved. However, I managed to clear out a fair amount beforehand. My husband is a hoarder and sorted virtually nothing before we left, despite my exhortations. The result, of course, was that we brought far too much with us. In addition to this, we also had far too much of our adult children’s belongings even though they left home years ago. I exhausted myself in the first few weeks as I went through everything and made a nice home. I also got rid of piles of stuff, meaning that our local charity shops and the tip did very well. The house looks really nice now and I like a tidy home but I am aware that there are still boxes of stuff in the loft and storage area that will need to be sorted at some stage. I just can’t face it at the moment. They are out of view, thankfully, so I am going on the principle of out of sight, out of mind for the time being.

All this talk of decluttering I find extremely worrying because DH has always been a hoarder and finds it impossible to get rid of stuff, be it magazines, clothes, electrical bits and pieces, old papers, DVDs - you name it, he keeps it and on top of that he has a double garage full of more stuff not forgetting two sheds. What do I do? I've mostly decluttered my own stuff, although still more to do, but what can I do about his? We're supposed to be downsizing next year and at this rate we'll just never fit into a smaller place. Anyone got the same problem? Anyone got a solution?

Do you want him to do it, or do you mind doing it for him?

It depends what he’s like, but with mine, if I start making noises about something needing to be done (he doesn’t like things being sprung on him, so I give him time to get used to the idea), then find some sort of deadline and say that I’ll have to make a start soon, he’d probably do it himself rather than risk me throwing away something important. He’s not great with ‘some time in the future’, so I gradually introduce a more fixed timescale. Whether that would work with yours depends on his personality though.

Nottoold, how about letting him know that there are hardly any new houses with double garages these days. I assume you would either like a new, easy care, house or an apartment. You need to be devious, ask him about what he would realistically like to downside to, bearing in mind that it costs 20k just to move and another 30k to make it into a really nice home

So suggest he puts masking tape on the garage floor, the size of a single garage, ie 8 x3m (mine is 9 x 3). He would need shelving plus room for any bikes etc. Give him that one job for now, some men get overwhelmed so easily and end up doing nothing. Then he could put his garage stuff into that space. When you go and see what he has done, ask him how he is going to move around in it, where his workbench will be etc

I had to do the garage myself as well as a large store room. Had to get rid of so much stuff. I think it took me from 2015 to 2019 and even then I was back and forth to recycling afterwards, thankfully the men there wanted a lot of what I took

I also suggest you do the rightmove, look at areas and at a very realistic budget ie minus that 50k

Back to my own progress. That 3 a day is going to be my aim now and this morning I have found 12, which includes yesterday. It means that I don`t need to go on another clutter-hunt until friday. Best of all I have found an A3 size sewing book that I forgot I had, I am going to enjoy reading it, learn some new things and then send it to a dil in Scotland

not A3, it is a large A4 book in a ring file

I had an estate agent to do a house valuation as I'm determined to downsize in the next year or so.

She was very polite about my house but ofcourse she mentioned decluttering along with some simple decorating. where the paint is peeling
It made me laugh after reading all the posts and glancing around my extremely overstuffed house of 43years.
I do know that there are companies who will declutter for you - at a price- and also house clearance companies who claim to be green

www.nugenwaste.co.uk/edinburgh-house-clearance?gclid=CjwKCAjw1t2pBhAFEiwA_-A-NLzkLJEWHhBiMY3AZdAO-h2r3zNb9t-Qz9E-w3z39kzp0dQh4mftohoCJuYQAvD_BwE

Grammaretto there are organisations that maybe be able to help. This one is based in Bristol, it will give you an idea of what might be available to you locally. Help the Aged or similar charities may have volunteers who could give you a hand. Anyone who has serious hoarding issues though should try and find specialist help because the volunteers will be experienced, non judgemental and supportive.


wecr.org.uk/help_advice/making-space-help-with-hoarding/